Special Conversion Thread: Unicorns

[freyar]

So "Continuous -- detect thoughts (60 ft range)" in the SLAs or a line similar to angels' aura of protection? Sounds good.

As for dog marking,

 

[Cleon]

I could go either way on the abilities, I guess.

Yeah, a 60 ft mental detection is along the lines of what I'm thinking, too.

I actually think the fence doesn't alert the brown unicorn, just intruders/visitors. At least, that's how it reads to me.

Oh right, I was thinking since it was a mental projection the unicorn would be aware of it, but making it autonomous would fit the description.

So it's a kind of psionic "magic mouth" that tells psycho-sensitive creatures "This is MY territory, don't dare to horn in on my gals!".

 

[freyar]

So any creature with a power point reserve or other brown unicorns can hear it? How do we want to specify psionic creatures since we usually stick psionics in a sidebar?

 

[Cleon]

So any creature with a power point reserve or other brown unicorns can hear it? How do we want to specify psionic creatures since we usually stick psionics in a sidebar?

Should we include creature with Psi-Like Abilities (since not all have power point reserves) and non-psionic telepathic abilities such as a read thoughts or telepathic bond spell or SLA?

How should we write this up, perhaps something like:

Psychic Warning Fence (Psi): A male brown unicorn can create an invisible barrier of mental energies around an area up to X in size. Psychic creatures that cross this barrier receives a telepathic warning that it is entering the a brown unicorn's territory, other brown unicorns receive the additional information of the stallion's name. The Psychic warning fence warns any creatures with a psi-like ability, psionic characters with a power point reserve, and non-psionic characters with the telepathic abilities (such as the ability to cast read thoughts or telepathic bond as a spell or spell-like ability). The telepathic ability need not be active, the intruder need merely have the potential to use telepathy, so a wizard who's prepared read thoughts but has not cast it would receive a warning. The psychic warning fence lasts for a duration of Y hours, and can be dispelled as if it were a psi-like ability with a manifestation level of Z.

...or we could just drop it, since it's a colourful background-ability without that much utility.

 

[freyar]

Well, that's a lot of text, but there's some potential, so I don't think I want to drop it entirely.

 

[Cleon]

Well, that's a lot of text, but there's some potential, so I don't think I want to drop it entirely.

Well I can say the telepathy-spell has to be active. That would cut down the text a bit. Upon reflection, I like the idea of the unicorn literally marking out the area with its horn, and I'll tweak the duration up a bit:

Psychic Warning Fence (Psi): A male brown unicorn can create an invisible barrier of mental energies around an area of ground up to X in size, by tracing a border around it with its horn. Psychic creatures that cross this line receives a telepathic warning that they are entering the brown unicorn's territory, other brown unicorns receive the additional information of the stallion's name. The barrier warns any creatures with a psi-like ability or a power point reserve, as well as non-psionic characters with active telepathic abilities (such as the ability to cast read thoughts or telepathic bond as a spell or spell-like ability). A psychic warning fence lasts for Y days, and can be dispelled as if it were a psi-like ability with a manifestation level of Z.

 

[Shade]

I'd simplify it further...

Psychic Warning Fence (Psi): A brown unicorn can use its horn to trace an invisible barrier of mental energies around an area of up to x square feet (or maybe 1 mile?). The barrier warns any creatures with a psi-like ability, power point reserve, or telepathy that they are entering the brown unicorn's territory. A psychic warning fence lasts for Y days, and can be dispelled as if it were a psi-like ability (manifester level equals unicorn's HD). A brown unicorn may only have one psychic warning fence active at a time; creating a second immediately removes the first.

 

[freyar]

Looks good! Let's go with 1 sq mile.

 

[Cleon]

I'd simplify it further...

Psychic Warning Fence (Psi): A brown unicorn can use its horn to trace an invisible barrier of mental energies around an area of up to x square feet (or maybe 1 mile?). The barrier warns any creatures with a psi-like ability, power point reserve, or telepathy that they are entering the brown unicorn's territory. A psychic warning fence lasts for Y days, and can be dispelled as if it were a psi-like ability (manifester level equals unicorn's HD). A brown unicorn may only have one psychic warning fence active at a time; creating a second immediately removes the first.

That looks like we've got it!

I't'd better cover a pretty big area, since its territory will need to be large enough to feed both the stallion and his herd. A square mile would likely be enough, they can always move and remark territory when they graze a patch out. (I could be more exact, but I'd need to know the average annual rainfall of the grazing area.)

Similarly the duration can be pretty long - make it a nice round week?

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Brown unicorns communicate with each other mentally. They have magical (nonpsionic) telepathy (applicable only to all other brown unicorns within range) and ESP (which reaches all other beings, one person per round) out to a 60' radius; both powers operate continuously.

Simplify the communication to telepathy 60 ft.?

They can cast a special sleep spell three times per day; this spell is exactly like the wizard spell but it affects at least one creature regardless of level. The spell works normally against creatures of 4+4 HD or less, but creatures of higher levels are allowed a saving throw vs. spells to avoid being put to sleep.

Simplify to deep slumber 3/day?